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closein the redzone: The essence of competition will soon arrive
Shaun Scott
The Olympics are much more than a sporting event. It’s a time when nations set aside their differences, coming together for a peaceful event where the best athletes from all corners of the world represent their homelands.
I can recall watching my first Olympics in 1992 as a 10-year old. The highlight of those Olympics for me was watching the United States basketball dream team composed of some of the best basketball players of all time dominate every opponent they faced before acquiring a gold medal.
In 1996, United States track and field legend Carl Lewis wowed the audience with a levitating leap on his final jump, capturing the ninth and final gold medal of his track and field career in the long jump. I will never forget sitting in my parents’ living room on the ground while all the flashbulbs popped as Lewis soared through the air. After landing the jump, Lewis immediately knew he had captured the gold medal.
I can’t wait for this year’s opening ceremonies on Aug. 8.
Every Olympics I get chills while watching American athletes make their way into the stadium for the opening ceremonies. Once every four years the best athletes in the world converge on a pre-determined location for the summer Olympic Games. This year, two athletes with East Pierce County connections will compete on the biggest stage against the best athletes in the world in their respective events at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
Emerald Ridge alumna Megan Jendrick will compete in the swimming 100-meter breaststroke this Sunday. Jendrick , who won two gold medals at the age of 16 under her maiden name Quann during the 2000 summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, has set a goal of bringing home the gold once again after missing out on the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
“I don’t think anyone goes out there without expecting to win at this point,” Jendrick said. “It’s definitely going to be a challenge. I want to bring home the gold and defend my title in the 100-meter breaststroke from eight years ago.”
Bonney Lake resident Melanie Roach punched her ticket to the 2008 Olympics after putting up 178.2 pounds in the snatch and 239.8 pounds in the clean and jerk at the U.S. Olympic weightlifting trials in May in Atlanta, Ga.
Roach is excited about the opportunity to represent her country.
“If I’m on the medal stand at the end of the day that’s great,” Roach said. “More importantly, I want to give it my best and represent Bonney Lake as well as I can. I’m having the time of my life right now.”
We’re very fortunate here in East Pierce County to have two locals make it to the mountaintop, that is the Olympics. Not many communities can boast two athletes representing their region and their country at the most revered athletic event in the world. Undoubtedly, not only East Pierce County but the entire United States will be pulling for Roach and Jendrick when they don our nation’s colors in front of world for their competitions. They both are already heroes to the community. If they happen to arrive home with medals hanging from their neck, well that’s just icing on the cake.